Delivery driver robberies spike in Worcester

Over the past month, at least six food delivery drivers have been robbed. Some were held at gunpoint, bashed with weapons or stabbed.

While police officials are concerned about the robberies and the possibility of the violence escalating, they also say local food joints could have better policies in place to keep drivers safe.

“When you look at the robberies and how they take place, they (robbers) look at it as an easy opportunity, but what they are yielding is not a real lot of money or product worth a lot of money,” Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said. “We know the drivers are carrying money and there is the potential for harm.”

The chief called delivery driver robberies an act done by a lot of amateurs.

On Dec. 2, a delivery driver was confronted by five men on Chandler Street. The driver took out a baseball bat, but the men took the bat and attacked the driver. His injuries were not fatal. The men took the man's car and drove off.

Police said they do not encourage delivery drivers to arm themselves.

“We would suggest that if they are involved with these types of situations that they call police and let police investigate,” Chief Gemme said. “There is always a chance to become a victim of your own weapon.”

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 2 this year, there have been 28 delivery driver robberies, a 12 percent increase over the same period last year. There were 25 from Jan. 1 to Dec. 2, 2011.

Arrests have been made in some cases, while other cases remain under investigation.

Many of the robberies occur late at night or in the early morning.

“Carrying a weapon isn't going to solve anything. The best thing you can do is not carry a lot of money, and give it to them if they tell you to,” said Eli Aoude, manager of Golden Pizza on Chandler Street. “There's no point in fighting back. My drivers only carry about $20 worth of change.”

His drivers have been robbed five times this year, the most of any business in the city. Drivers of the Golden Pizza businesses on Lincoln Street and Grafton Street were robbed twice this year. Domino's Pizza delivery drivers have been robbed three times.

“We've been talking to (drivers) about it over the years. We've been doing this for 22 years now,” Mr. Aoude said. “If you have a driver's job you deliver till 2:30-3 o'clock in the morning. You expect things to happen. We tell them: Take precaution before you take an order. When you're going out on a delivery, if you see a house that's not lit, don't go in the house. Unless they have lights outside the house or the apartments are lit, don't go in the house. Take caution. If nobody's answering the door, give them a call to verify the order. If nobody lives in the house, just walk away.”

Chief Gemme said some establishments in the city haven't seen their delivery drivers robbed. He said businesses and employees need to scrutinize calls, be aware of their surroundings and educate their drivers.

Late-night deliveries are part of the fast-food restaurant business, but the chief said drivers need to be more aware at night.

While police continue to monitor the recent spate of delivery driver robberies, they are also focusing on a spike in break-ins last month.

Using crime statistics, police projected 181 break-ins citywide in November, but the actual number was 233. Police have been talking to other area departments about increases seen outside the city as well. A task force with representatives of other agencies reviews the incidents as well.

From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30 this year, there have been 2,082 break-ins in Worcester, a 1.9 percent decrease from the 2,122 during the same period last year. Break-ins were trending down this year, but the spike in November cut into the decrease.

“We really got hit hard in a number of different sections in the city,” the chief said about November.

The areas around Indian Lake, Salisbury Street, Grove Street, Foster Street and a portion of West Boylston Street all were hit hard. Compared to last November, the number of residential and commercial break-ins in those areas more than doubled.

“What we've done is move more resources into those areas,” Chief Gemme said. “We designated it a tactical response area and made arrests.”

Police said those involved in the illegal activity are usually involved in more than one break-in. When a suspect is identified in one case police investigate to see if the person could have been involved in others.